Arshed Masih is fighting for his life after he was nearly burned to death by Muslim militant leaders backed by police, sources tell BosNewsLife. Photo: BosNewsLife Correspondent reporting from the region

RAWALPINDI, PAKISTAN (BosNewsLife)-- A Christian man was fighting for his life in Pakistan's Punjab province Saturday, March 20, after Muslim leaders backed by police burned him alive for refusing to convert to Islam, while his wife was raped by police officers, Christian and hospital sources familiar with the case told BosNewsLife.

Arshed Masih was burned Friday, March 19, in front of a police station in the city of Rawalpindi near Pakistan's capital Islamabad, following apparent death threats from his Muslim employer Sheikh Mohammad Sultan, an influential businessman, and religious leaders, said the Rawalpindi Holy Family Hospital.

His wife, Martha Arshed, was allegedly raped by police officers. Their three children -- ranging in age from 7 to 12-- were reportedly forced to witness the attacks against their parents.

"Both [Masih] and wife were rushed to the Holy Family Hospital and are under treatment," the hospital said.

He was listed in serious condition with about 80 percent of his body burned.

POLICE INVESTIGATION

Local police officials said they were "aware" of the attacks carried out by Muslim leaders and apparently at least some officers and added that an investigation was underway. No arrests were reported yet late Saturday, March 19.

Sheikh Mohammad Sultan could not immediately be reached for comment and it was not clear whether he had been in contact with police Saturday, March 20.

Before tensions emerged about their Christian faith, Masih worked as a driver and his wife as a maid for the Muslim businessman since 2005, Christians said.

The couple apparently lived with their children in the servant quarters of Sultan's estate in Rawalpindi, a key trade and tourist destination. In January, religious leaders and Sultan allegedly asked Arshed to convert to Islam with his whole family. After he refused, the group reportedly threatened him with "dire consequences".

DEATH THREAT

The police's First Information Report on the theft, seen by BosNewsLife

Arshed offered to quit his job, but the businessman allegedly said he would "kill" him if he were to leave.

He apparently also told Christian mediators that he would never allow the Christian family to live somewhere else.

This week tensions rose after Sultan reported a theft of 500,000 Pakistani Rupees (5,952$), according to a document seen by BosNewsLife.

The Christian family members were not named as suspects in the so-called 'First Information Report' from police.

Sources familiar with the situation, who asked not to be identified for security reasons, told BosNewsLife that the businessman had offered the couple to drop the case if they convert to Islam or "else that both would not see their children again."

However, "Arshed refused to convert and stood firm in his faith. Arshed`s wife was raped by the police and he was burned alive," Friday, March 19, local Christians said, speaking on condition of anonimity.

The case comes at a time when church groups have complained about growing attacks against minority Christians by Muslim militants, often with the alleged support by local law enforcement officials and other authorities. (BosNewsLife Asia Service includes BosNewsLife correspondents often working in difficult circumstances. In some cases, including this report, their names are not mentioned due to security concerns. With editing by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos).

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If you really want all the evidence to prove that Islam is COMPLEATLY false – read ‘islamic invasion’ – robert morley. the only way to beat this sickness is to publicly prove islam to be fiction- that is the cure for this satanic desease.

Islam is a perfect example of religion without mercy and grace. Religion left to itself, becomes evil; forcing all to become just as evil as itself. Mercy and grace provide forgiveness and peace. If a person is forced to worship Allah, why would he want THAT kind of devotion? It’s just as bad as forcing people to become Christian.

(BosNewsLife received the following extremist comment from Gashama, underscoring what Christians say they face in Pakistan. Viewer discretion is advised, as we have chosen not to edit the comment).

Christian specially here in Pakistan are the big drama makers, cheater and lier. 100% of them are belong to very lowest class families where is respect is just like a shitt for them. And over 99.99% do the job as sweepers and cleaners. So what you may expect from those type of drug user people? Drama god damn..

These guys are often spot on their political opinions. They endure as a informatave view. I pray they will always be brave enough to tell it like it is and oppose the GOP sponsored Fox Network propaganda.

I am fully agree with Nadia Talha
“This is completely human right violation. I stand with Christians in this incidence & these disgusting Muslims should be punished to death. I pray all such so called Muslims are burned in Hell (amen)”

Dear…The Truth must come Out and nobody can stop it…but i am seeing that most of the readers here r blaming this to religion … i am sorry for for those who think that such persecutions happened due to religion … May God Bless all of us

Why didn’t the media report this as a human rights violation? I’m sure if a homosexual was burned alive somewhere in the world that the media would be all over it. It just goes to show you the bias the secular media has against Christians and their fear of Muslim extremists.

The media is no longer free, it’s controlled by the liberal elites. He who controls the media controls the thoughts and minds of people. – Nazi and Communist Propaganda has finally reached the Free World.

every time a non muslim commits a crime it is not highlighted what religion he is. every time a munafiq (fake muslim) commits a crime he is an embarrasment and an abomination allah will punish them dont worry oh people of all faiths, the old countries are truly riddled of hipocritical “muslims” who are confusing all the people of the world, remember never judge a religion by the actions of its people, the devil uses the same method to attempt to break down and destroy the truth thru all time, with Isa (jesus) it took him only 300 years to contaminate and create many factions in the truth that jesus brought. Now after 1500 years we are seeing the same pattern with those who call themselves muslims just like the crusades happened, remember it is his method, i recommend all read the quran you will see that the words and the teachings that took the world out of the middle ages and into the renassaince are still the same; but today the people of this religion are different and disappointing, the prophet foretold of this he stated there will be many hipocrites who will soil the name of islam so that no one will remember what it was, he was not a bad man read his story than judge for yourself, believe me this outrage and anger is exactly what the devil wants. He hates man becuase we took his place as gods favorite he wants to destroy us to prove to god we are not worthy of the title of best of his creation.. please i implore all reader to stop thinking that independent actions are an example of islam, there is good and evil in every sector of the world, but only one truth, the quran always speaks of the believers, not muslims, any one can be a believer of allah remember dont hate the words that have not changed thru the centuries the people who have changed if there was a true islamic government all these people would be punished, and allah is punishing them by blessing the non believers right now, the western countries are safe and blessed by allah as well, becuase he will protect those potentially good muslims. these days a converted muslim is better than one who was born into a muslim family, becuase he falls into place the convert chooses the right stuff, I am an american muslim and I know more about islam than our socalled counterparts in the old country, they do not read the quran, they do not care about the truth, they barely know how to pray, they are an insult, and I cant wait till allah destroys them it is coming soon.
dont worry oh people of the world, I understand the outrage, but please do not misplace your anger/
understand that there are different people in each category of the world it is a rule of probability/
I wish and pray for the peace of all those who are suffering, and understanding to come to the minds of those who are unaware, WWI ane WWII have left the middle east with too much damage they have forgotten their glory and past, they are a mockery and abomination, I have seen it first hand that is why I married a honest loving converted black african american against my family when islam allows me to marry any race they were hipocrites and gave me much resistance. But today allah has blessed me and I am happy to be a muslim, and believe me I wish I could go and help that poor christian, because if the prophet was here he would have protected him and beheaded the fake muslim believe that.

Jesus said Be in the world but not of the world. A christian Simply refusing conversion to Islam under dire consequences doesnt help you in becoming a true christian at all. As the required qualifications for being true christian supersede far too much expectations of Kingdom of God in any case,so why not concentrate on Sermon on the mount, Love your enemy, Follow the Ten Commandments, Speak to one another in hymns and psalms, Overcome evil with good. Have new understanding of Corrected commandments like donot lust, donot get angry (that is thought level obedience apart from deeds) , always be full of charity, pray for the good of others, sacrifice yourself to do something good for others, stop having a sinful life etc. can actually make you a christian in the sight of God even if outwardly you are muslim convert from christianity. This is also an opportunity to stand as a witness for Christ to other muslims who will one day wake up to know who is your true God. In short christianity is not about being religious, but loving your neighbour as yourself, that is sharing your resources with those in need, not being violent or revengeful to those that harm you, because God punishes them any way if you look foward His justice, and simply living a life of repentance can achieve greater results in kingdom of God instead of being fanatic christians trained by so called false christian church fathers who simply tell things that lead to death needlessly. Always be an aroma to the world buy knowing and following the truth. Be humble as doves but shrewd a serpents. Do not be foolish. Pray ceasely for oneself and for others. and always have a repenting heart.

The twin fascisms that causes most massacres, wars, “conflicts” today:

Arabism is racism (Arab racism)
Millions upon Millions are/became victims of [pan-] Arabism which is the worst current form of racism in its gigantic proportions, like: Kurds Jews (not just in Israel) Berbers (the real natives of North Africa), Africans (not just in the genocide in the Sudan or in Egypt on native Nubians by Arab invaders – till today), Persians, etc.

Islamism is bigotry (Islamofascism)!
The Islamic supremacy that “works” towards its vision of “final Islamic domination on the entire planet”, from Middle east to Africa from Asia to Eurabia, from forced conversions, terrorism, & massacres in multiple countries (like: Thailand, Phillipines, China, Indonesia, Tunisia, Morocco, Kenya, Tanzania, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Lebanon India, USA, France, Israel, Russia, UK, etc.) to propaganda, the war includes on Muslims who are not radical enough…,

Let’s face it! that entire war on Israel & the Jews since the 1920’s by infamous facsist Mufti Haj Amin Al-Husseini who started the “genocide campaign” [and continues by the children, grand children of Arab immigrants into Israel – Palestine – now convenienently called “palestinians”] in a clear outlined declaration to ‘kill all Jews’, is nothing but out of pure Arab Muslim bigotry.

—

Why does biased media blame Israel defenders from vicious Arab Muslims who use civilians when they attack Israeli civilians… so that their civilians (they prefer kids to) die then parade with the casualties as “innocent victims”???

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